Power driven multiple revolving card files



June 18, 1957 E. E. KNITTEL v 2,796,308

PowER DRIVEN MULTIPLE REvoLvING CARD FILES Filed Nov. a, 1955 5 sheets-sheet 1 A #Mmmm 512M/emi lul ATToR/vfy June 18, 1957 E. E. KNITTEL 2,796,308

POWER DRIVEN MULTIPLE REVOLVINGvl CARD FILES Filed Nov. 8, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Illllllllmnunum INVENToR. Erm! E. Kniffel ,L. ATTORNEY June 18, 1957 E. E. KNITTEL 2,795,308

POWER DEIvEN MULTIPLE EEvoLvING CARD FILES Filed NOV. 8,l 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 EmL'l E Kniffel BY v IN VEN TOR.

June 18, 1957 E, E- KN|TTE| 2,796,308

POWER DRIVEN MULTIPLE REVOLVING CARD FILES Filed Nov. 8, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 L.; A TTORNEY June 18, 1957 E. E. KNrrTEL 2,796,308

POWER DRIvEN MULTIPLE REvoLvING CARD-FILES Filed Nov. 8, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. EmL'Z E. Km'el BY I - #19M 6, MM.

H ATTORNEY rs A .2,796,308

l Patented June 18,' 1957 POWER DRn/EN MULTIPLE REvoLvING CARD FILES Emil E. Knittel, Malvern@ N. Y.

Application November 8, 1955, Seriai No. 545,7@

Claims. (Cl. S12- 186) This invention `relates to improvements in card files of the type comprising a substantially vertically disposed wheel having individual tile card containing compartments in its periphery.. The tile cards are of conventional rectangular form and require no special configuration in order to attach them to the wheel, but an endless Ibelt eX- tending around the lower portion of the periphery of the wheel prevents the cards from falling out of the compartments. Card files of the aforementioned type form the subject matter of my earlier Patents Nos. 2,418,357 `and 2,517,678.

.For business establishments requiring a great number of iile cards, such as insurance companies, banks, railroads, parts departments, it is desirable to keep all the lile cards -on as vsmall a floor space as possible and in such a way that each tile card is readily accessible for inspection and removal. It is further desirable to operate card carrying Wheels by power, for example by means of an electric motor and in such a way that each car-d retaining compartment can quickly be moved into the position lin which the operator can inspect and remove a particular iile card or in which a new tile car-d can be inserted in its proper space.

The invention provides an improved rotary .card le lof lthe aforementioned type having a large capacity Vfor iile cards. A plurality of wheels are assembled side by side on a suitable common support, `for example, a 'common shaft. According t-o the invention, power means are provided for operating each of the wheels.

The power drive and is controls are .so arranged that ithe several wheels of the multiple card le may lbe operated independently by several operators at the same time, yand each Wheel may be operated in lboth directions of r0- tation, top going or top coming, so as to bring any desired ,card compartment before the operator by a rota- Ition of the wheel not exceeding one-half of one revolution.

The invention further provides numerous `improvements and renements which make it possible t-o repair and replace individual belts without disturbing the entire jassembly, improvements which permit the 'tile to operate smoothly and without disturbance even if 'not properly leveled and other improvements which permit ready assembly of a multiple card le lof any desired number of units from standardized parts.

These and vari-ous other objects, features and advantages of this invent-ion will appear more fully from the detailed rdescr'qation Which follows, accompanied by drawings showing, .for the `purpose of illustration, a preferred embodiment of 'the invention. The 'invention also resides in 'certain new and original features of construction and combination of elements hereinaftery set forth and-claimed. Although the characteristic features of `this invention which are believed to be novel will be particul'arly'pointed out in the claims appended-hereto, its objects and .advantages and the manner in which it may be carriedout, may be better understood by referring to the (follow-ing description 'taken in connection 'with the accompany dra-W- ings [forming a part of it, in which:

Fig. .l is a perspective view of a multiple card le containing eight vvheels and individual controls therefor;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one end of the card til-e of Fig. l, after removal of the enclosure to expose the power drive;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a driving and card retaining belt, looking at the top rear portion of the ii'le;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the belt mechanism and a portion of its drive, the mechanism `of Fig. 4 being below the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, at theV bottom rear portion of the file; y

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the front portion of the tile, showing the front drive shaft and certain ope-rating mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a single section of the front drive shat and associated controls; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a structural drive unit for one wheel comprising a front drive shaft section, `a rear drive shaft section and joint controls for both.

-In the following vdescription and in the claims various details will be identified by specific names for convenience. The names, however, are intended to be generic in their application. Corresponding reference characters refer to corresponding parts in 'the several figures of the drawings.

The drawings accompanying, and forming part of, this specification disclose certain specific details ofthe invention for the purposeof explanation of broader aspects of the invention, but it is understood that details maybe modied in various respects without departure from the principles of the invention and that the invention may be embodied in other forms than the one shown.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l shows a ymultiple card file comprising eight units enclosed within a cabinet 11.. The cabinetis constructed from a structural sup porting framework 12 covered by suitable cover plates 13. Eight wheels 14 are mounted in vthe cabinet rv11 for coaxial rotation about a substantially horizontal axis.

Each wheel comprises individual peripheral compartments 1,5 containing file cards '16. The compartments are formed by transverse partitions V17 preferably provided with tab 'projections 18. The tab projections have a depressed central portion 1'9 for purposes which will later become apparent.

Each wheel is provided with a control handle '20 which, as Wil-l later be described, has three principal positions, one position in which a respective wheel moves towards the operator, i. e. top coming, a second position in which the wheel'move's away from the operator, i. e., top going, and Va third position in which the wheel is arrested to be immovable.

In front of the controls a shelf 21 is arranged which normally constitutes a part of fthe cover assembly, further cover Ypanels being visible at 22. The cabinet 11 has a projection 23 which houses the drive mechanism as will present-1y be seen.

Figure '2 shows 'the housing portion '23 vafter removal of the cover plates. The endmost wheel 1-4 is visible and so is a common horizontal shaft A24 on which all the individual wheels are supported in the framework 112 for cov-axial rotation.

A motor 25 drives a reduction gear 26 from which two low fspeed lshafts extend, 'one low speed shaft being visible a't 27. The low yspeed -s'haft 27 drives a right angle4 gear 28 for operating a front drive shaft 29. A rear drive Ishaft 3i) is driven through a similar angle gear which is not visible, since it 4lies behind the motor.

The file cards '16 are retained in the wheels by endlessl belts "31. The belts, of which one is visible in Figure '2,

- extend' over, and engage, the depressed central portion 19 of the tab projections 18 of the wheel and are kept taut about the wheel by appropriate belt tensioning means later to be described.

The cards rest against the bottom of the individual compartments and against the partitions within the upper portion of the wheel. Within the lower portion of the wheel the cards, following gravity, slide awayfrom the compartment bottom and come to rest against that portion of the belt which extends over the partitions. The rst function of the belt`31 is, therefore, to retain the file cards in the wheel. A further function of the belt is to drive the wheel in one direction or the other, as desired by the operator. For this purpose the belt extends over idler pulleys 32 and 33 mounted on the drive shafts 29 and 30, respectively. In Figure 2 only the idler pulley 32 is visible. Each idler pulley is combined with a clutch mechanism which is so constructed that either the front pulley 32 may be driven by the front shaft 29, resulting in rotation of the wheel in one direction, or that the rear pulley 33 is driven by the rear shaft resulting in rotation of the .wheel in the opposite direction. Y

Figure 3 illustrates the portion of the belts 31 at which the belts are turned back on themselves. The illustrated portion is at the rear of the cabinet and comprises guide pulleys 34 and return pulleys 35 mounted on suitable lstub shafts 36 on structural elements of the framework 12. A similar pair of guide and return pulleys is mounted at the front of the cabinet, and it is now apparent that the endless belts 31 are folded back o work 12 within which the rear drive shaft 30 extends 2 from one end to the other. The drive shaft is preferably constructed in individual sections, there being one section for each wheel. Each section has an individual supporting bearing 36 mounted on a transverse framework member 37. Each shaft section is fitted with shaft couplings 38 for connection with the adjoining shaft section in order vto drive the next section or in order to be driven thereby. The shaft couplings comprise male members 39 having projecting pins 40 and female coupling elements 41 having at sides 42 against which the pins rest.

The use of sectional short drive shafts in place of solid long drive shafts offers several advantages. In the first place, it simplifies the construction of multiple iile units in that drive shafts of different lengths are not required, since as many shaft sections can be put end to en d as there are wheels.

Secondly, the installation and removal of individual endless belts is accomplished without difficulty by removing only one shaft section, or a portion thereof, for example, a shaft coupling.

A third advantage arises from the fact that no increase in bearing friction or binding of the drive shafts in the bearings is likely to occur in the event the cabinet is not properly leveled.

The mechanism shown in Figure 4 comprises belt tensioning pulleys 43 mounted on pivota'lly supported arms 44 biased in a downward direction by tensioning springs 45. The belt 31 extending downwardly from pulley 34 (Fig. 3) first runs over the tensioning pulley 43, then over a guide pulley 46 and finally over vthe rear idler pulley 33.

The rear idler pulley normally turns free on the drive shaft section 30, but may be driven thereby by means of a clutch.

The clutch comprises a driving element 47 which is keyed for rotation, but is laterally slidable on the drive shaft. The driving element is provided with laterally projecting drive pins 48 which may engage appropriately shaped `lateral pockets 49 in the idler pulley 33.

In the position shown in Figure 4 the two elements of the clutch, the idler pulley 33 and the driving elements 47, are disengaged and the wheels 14 are at rest. If the driving element 47 on the clutch is slid to the left to engage the lateral pockets of the idler pulley 33, the idler pulley is positively driven, resulting in a corresponding rotation of the wheel 14.

The operating mechanism for engaging and disengaging the clutch by a lateral movement of the driving element 47 comprises a claw 50 pivotally mounted at 51 and provided with studs 52 riding in a peripheral groove 53 of the driving element 47.

The claw forms one end of a bell crank lever 54 from which an operating rod 5S extends to a similar clutch mechanism associated with the front drive shaft 29.

The front drive shaft is similarly constructed as the rear drive shaft. The individual sections of the front drive shaft 29 are mounted in individual bearings 136 near the front end of the transverse framework members 37. The several sections of the shaft 29 are interconnected by shaft couplings 138 comprising male elements 139 with pins 140 and female elements 141 engaged by the pins 140.

The idler pulleys 32 turn freely on the front drive shaft 29 and have lateral pockets 149 for engagement by drive pins (not visible) of driving clutch elements 147 keyed and laterally slidable on the shaft sections 29.

Bell crank levers 154 are provided for engaging and disengaging the clutches which consist of driving elements 147 and idler pulleys 32. The studs 152 in the claw portion 150 of the bell crank levers 154 engage a peripheral groove 153 in the rdriving element 147.

The front drive shaft assembly further comprises a brake and operating linkage which are best explained by referring to Figures 6 and 7.

Figure 6 shows the bearing 136 for the drive shaft 29. A lateral bracket 56 is secured to the bearing 136 near its base and supports the bell crank lever 154 about its pivotal axis 151. The bell crank lever has an operating link 57 connected thereto at 58. The link is substantially J-shaped and its other end engages a pin 59 which is fixed in a plate 60 and extends tluough it. The plate itself is pivotally mounted at 61 (Fig. 7) to a transverse top arm 62 of the bearing 136.

As is also apparent from Figure 7, an operating rod 63 extends upwardly from, and is pivotally connected to, the pin 59, so that an upward pull on the rod causes the plate 60 to turn counterclockwisely as viewed in Figure 7. Such movement is transmitted to the bell crank lever 154 by the link 57 and causes engagement of the clutch'147, 32.

The plate 60 carries a further pivot 64 to which the horizontal operating rod 55 is connected. The operating rod 55, as previously explained, operates the clutch on the rear shaft.

. The assembly shown in Figure 6 comprises a brake acting on the idler pulley 32. A brake shoe 65 is pivotally mounted on the bearing 136 at 66 and is normally depressed into the position in which the idler pulley 32 is arrested. For this purpose a spring 67 is mounted on a stud 68 extending upwardly from the lateral top arm 62. The tension of the spring is adjustable by a nut 69 and the lower end of the spring bears against a brake lever 70. The front end of the brake lever carries a cam follower 71 and the lever is provided with a bore suficiently largel to permit the stud 68 to pass through the brake lever freely without interfering with the tilting motion of the brake lever 70 about its pivot 72 on the arm 62.

A bolt 73 is screwed into brake lever 70 and passes through an appropriate bore in the arm 62. The lower end of the bolt 73 rests against the brake shoe 65.

The cam follower 71 of the brake lever may be engaged by a cam 74 which is fast on the rear surface of the rotatable plate 60. The curvature of thecam is such that upon lifting of the pin 59 portions of increasingly larger radius engage the cam follower, thereby lifting the brake lever 70 and releasing the brake shoe 65. The same rotation of the plate A60 causes engagement of the idler pulley 32 by the driving element 147 of the clutch.

The cam 74 is symmetrical with respect to the position shown in Figure 6 so that depression of the pin 59' also causes the brake to be released. Referring now torFigure 7 it is seen that depression of the pin 59 causes the horizontal rod 55'to move to the left thereby engaging the clutch on the rear shaft f As itis clearly visible in Figure 6, the driving element 147 of the clutch has as much freedom to travel to the left as it has freedom to 'travel to the right in its fully engaged position. This freedom of Vmovement is required because of the alternate engagement'of the clutches on the front shaft and on the rear shaft. Engagement of the rear clutch causes ther driving element 147 of the front clutch to move farther away from the idler pulley 32 and engagement of the fr ont clutch causes the driving element 47 of the rear clutch to move farther away from the idler pulley 33. l

Turning now to Figure 5, it is readily seen that the operating lever or handle has three principal positions. The handle 20 is mounted on a plate 75 which is secured to the top of an arm 76 pivotally mounted in the framework 12 at 77. The arm 76 carries a pin 78 to which the operating rod 63 is linked. j y

Movement of the control handle 20 away from the operator causes lifting of the operating rod 63 and engagement of the clutch on the front shaft. The front shaft turns in counterclockwise direction looking at the shaft from the right angle gear 2S and causes the wheel to move away from the operator, in other words top going.

If the operator pulls the handle 20 towards her, the clutch on the rear shaft is engaged, causing the wheel to turn towards the operator, i. e., top coming. In the central position in which the handle is upright both clutches are disengaged and the wheel is arrested by the brake operating on the idler pulley 32. j

As seen in Figure 5, the belt is trained around two pulleys at the operators side, a return pulley 135 and a guide pulley 136.

The motor runs continuously and permits independent operation of each of the wheels by appropriate actuation of the control handles 20.

The drive is smooth and without jarring even though clutches of the pin-type are employed. Smoothness of the drive is insured by the frictional engagement between the belt and the idler pulleys and by the resiliency inherent in any flexible belt.

What is claimed is:

l. A multiple rotary card file comprising, a supporting structure; a plurality of wheels having peripheral compartments for file cards; means for supporting said wheels in said structure for turning about a common substantially horizontal axis; an endless belt for each wheel, said belt extending over the compartments within the lower portion of the respective wheel to retain cards therein; a pair of drive shafts extending substantially parallel to said axis, said drive shafts being geared to turn in opposite directions; individual clutches for each of said wheels for driving the respective belt from one of said shafts and the other to produce top going and top coming rotation of the respective wheel; and individual control means, one for each wheel, for operating the respective clutch to drive the wheel from one shaft or the other.

2. A multiple rotary card le comprising, a supporting structure; a plurality of wheels having peripheral compartments for file cards; means for supporting said wheels in said structure for turning about a common substantially horizontal axis; an endless belt for each wheel, said belt extending over the compartments within the lower portion of the respectivewheels to retain cards therein; a pair of drive shafts extending substantially parallel to said axis, said drive shafts being geared to turn in opposite directions; clutch means for each ofl said wheels for driving the respective belt from one of the said shafts and the other to produce top going and top coming rotation of the respective wheels; a brake for each of said wheels; means for normally biasing said brake towards its arresting position; and joint .control means, one for each Wheel, for actuating said clutch meanspand the respective brake.

3. A multiple rotary card tile' comprising, a supporting structure; a plurality of wheels having peripheral comy partments for file cards; a common shaft for supporting said wheels in said structure for turning about a substantially horizontal axis; an endless belt for each.l wheel, said belt extending over the compartments within the lower portion of the respective wheel to retain cards therein; a pair of drive shafts extending substantially parallel to said axis, said drive shafts being geared to turn in opposite directions; clutch means for each of said wheels for driving the respective belt from one of said drive shafts or the other; a brake for each of said wheels; and joint control means, one for each Wheel, for actuating said clutch means and the respective brake.

4. A rotary card le comprising, a supporting structure; a plurality of Wheels having peripheral compartments for le cards; a common shaft for supporting said wheels in said structure for turning about a substantially horizontal axis; an endless belt for each of said wheels, said belt extending over the compartment within the lower portion of the respective wheels to retain cards therein; a pair of drive shafts extending substantially parallel to said axis, said drive shafts being geared to turn in opposite directions; clutch means for each of said wheels for driving the respective belt from one of said drive shafts or the other; a brake for each of said Wheels; means for normally biasing said brake towards its arresting position; and joint control means, one for each wheel, for actuating said clutch means and the respective brake, the control means having three positions, one position in which the clutch means is in engagement with one of said drive shafts, another position in which said clutch means is in engagement with the other drive shaft, and an. intermediate rest position in which the brake arrests the wheel.

5, A multiple rotary card file comprising, a supporting structure; a plurality of wheels, each wheel having a peripheral recess and comprising transverse partitions for divi-ding said recess into individual compartments for file cards; a common shaft for supporting said wheels in said structure for turning about a substantially horizontal axis; an endless belt for each of said wheels; pulleys in said structure around which pulleys said belt is trained, the run of said belt including a substantially U-shaped portion extending about, and engaging, said partitions Within the lower portion of the wheel to retain file car-ds therein; a pair of sectional drive shafts extending substantially parallel to said axis, said drive shafts being geared to turn in opposite directions, there being one section of each of the drive shafts for each wheel, said sectional drive shafts comprising shaft couplings for connecting the sections of each shaft together; clutch means for each of said wheels for driving the respective belt from one of the respective drive sha-fts or the other; and manual control means, one for each wheel, for actuating said clutch means to drive the respective wheel belt from one of said drive shafts or the other, said control means and cl-utch means having a neutral position in which the belt is disengaged from the drive shafts.

6. A multiple rotary card tile comprising, a supporting structure; a plurality of wheels, each wheel having a peripheral recess and comprising transverse partitions for dividing said recess into individual compartments for file cards; a common shaft for supporting said wheels in said e structure for turning about a substantially horizontal axis; an endless belt for each of said Wheels; pulleys in said structure around which pulleys said belt is trained, the run of said belt including a substantially U-shaped portion extending about, and engaging, said partitions within the lower portion of the wheel to retain iile cards therein; a pair of sectional drive shafts extending substantially parallel to said axis, said -drive shafts being geared to turn in opposite directions, there being one section of each of the drive shafts for each wheel, said sectional drive shafts comprising shaft couplings for connecting the sections of each shaft together; clutch means for each of said wheels for driving the respective belt from one of the respective drive shafts or the other; a brake for each of said wheels; means for normally biasing said brake towards its arresting position; and a joint manual control means, one for each wheel, for actuating said clutch means and said brake, said control means having three positions, one position in which the brake is released and the clutch means engages said belt with one of said drive shafts, another position in which the brake is released and said clutch means engages said belt with the other drive shaft, and an intermediate rest position in which the clutch is disengaged and the brake arrests the wheel.

7. A structural unit for multiple rotary card files in which a plurality of wheels are mounted, side by side, in a supporting structure for independent rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, said wheels having peripheral compartments for tile cards, said structural unit comprising, at least one such wheel; an endless belt extending over the compartments within the lower portion of the wheel to retain cards therein; two drive shaft sections; shaft couplings on the drive shaft sections for provi-ding driving engagement with corresponding adjacent drive sha-ft sections of other wheels; a belt pulley idling on each of said drive shaft sections; a clutch on each of said drive shaft sections for engaging and disengaging the respective belt pulley; and joint control means for said clutches, said control means having three positions, a first position in which one clutch is engaged, a second position in which the other clutch is engaged, and an intermediate position in which both clutches are disengaged.

8. A structural unit for multiple rotary card files in which a plurality of wheels are mounted side by side in a supporting structure for independent rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, v said wheels having peripheral compartments for file cards, said structural unit comprising, at least one such wheel; an endless belt extending over the compartments Within the lower portion of the wheel to retain cards therein; two drive shaft sections; shaft couplings on the drive shaft sections for providing driving engagement with corresponding adjacent drive shaft sections of other wheels; a belt pulley idling on each of said drive shaft sections; a clutch on each of said drive shaft section for engaging and disengaging the respective belt pulley; a brake for one of said belt pulleys; means for normally biasing said brake towards its arresting position; and joint control means for said clutches and said brakes, said control means having three positions, a lirst position in which one clutch is engaged CII e and the brake is released, a second position in which the other clutch is engaged and the brake is released, and an intermediate position in which both clutches are disengaged and the brake is applied.

9. A rotary card file comprising a supporting structure; a plurality of wheels, each wheel having a peripheral recess and comprising ytransverse partitions for dividing said recess into individual compartments for file cards; a comrnon shaft for supporting said Wheels in said structure for turning about a substantially horizontal axis; an endless belt for each of said wheel; pulleys in said structure around which pulleys said belt is trained, the run of said belt including a substantially U-shaped portion extending about, and engaging, said partitions within the lower portion of the wheel to retain file cards therein; a pair of drive v shafts extending substantially parallel to said axis; an

idler belt pulley on each of said drive shaft for each of said belts; a clutch on each of said drive shafts for each of said idler pulleys; and joint control means, one for each Wheel, for actuating the two clutches for the respective idler belt pulleys, the control means having three positions, one position in which one clutch is engaged and the other clutch is disengaged, another position in which said one clutch is disengaged and said other clutch is engaged, and a third position in which both clutches are disengaged and the idler pulleys are at rest on the rotating drive shafts.

l0. A rotary card tile comprising, a supporting structure; a plurality of Wheels, each wheel having a peripheral recess and comprising transverse partitions for dividing said recess into individual compartments for lile cards; a common shaft for supporting said wheels in said structure for turning about a substantially horizontal axis; an endless belt for each of said wheel; pulleys in said structure around which pulleys said belt is trained, the

run of said belt including a substantially Uwshaped portion extending about, and engaging, said partitions within the lower portion of the wheel to retain le cards therein, a pair of drive shafts extending substantially parallel to said axis; an idler belt pulley on each of said drive shaft for each of said belts; a clutch on eachof said drive shafts for each of said idler pulleys; a brake for each of said wheels, said brake being associated with one of said idler pulleys; and joint control means, one for each wheel, for actuating the two clutches for the respective idler belt pulleys and said brake, the control means having three positions, one position in which one clutch is engaged, the other clutch is disengaged and the brake is released, another position in which said one clutch is disengaged, said other clutch is engaged, and said brake is released, and a third position in which both clutches are disengaged and the brake is applied, in which last named position both idler pulleys are at rest on the rotating drive shafts.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,394,448 Sitney Oct. 18, 1921 2,136,454 Miller Nov. l5 1938v 2,235,736 Bruen Mar. 18, 1941 2,698,212 Sevebeck Dec. 28, 1954 4T, mw), 

